The Wells Report for Monday, September 25, 2023
Today's News, Analysis, Commentary & Debate
POLITICS:
SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ INDICTED ON BRIBERY CHARGES
WALL STREET JOURNAL:
A growing number of Democratic lawmakers and officials are calling on Sen. Bob Menendez to resign, after he was indicted Friday in a bribery scheme by federal prosecutors.
The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office charged the Democratic senator with accepting cash, gold bars and other benefits in exchange for using his office to enrich three businessmen and aid the Egyptian government. Menendez stepped aside as chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, but has rejected demands that he quit the Senate.
“I am not going anywhere,” Menendez said. He called the charges false and said he was the victim of “an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, called for Menendez’s resignation late Friday, and he was joined by a series of other officials as the weekend progressed.
TWR: Everyone is innocent until the State proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, they are guilty.
We are often reminded of this Nation’s now undeniable 2-tier legal system…We see this again here…
Switch “cash, gold bars and other benefits” for “cash, diamonds and other benefits”…
Switch “[Menendez] using his office to enrich 3 businessmen” for “Biden using his office to enrich 1 Ukrainian Oligarch, 1 Chinese President, 1 Romanian Businessman”…
And finally, switch “aid the Egyptian Government” with “aid the Chinese, Ukrainian and Romanian Governments”…And you’re left with this:
Nearly identical allegations…Only one set of Indictments. It appears that Biden Inc. wins again.
ABC/WAPO POLLING SHOWS TRUMP LEADS BIDEN BY 10%
FOX NEWS:
Former President Donald Trump is currently leading President Biden by 10 points among voters, according to a new poll.
The Washington Post and ABC released the poll Sunday, which found that if the 2024 presidential election were held today, Trump would win 52% to 42% over Biden. Respondents also held a poor view of Biden's handling of the economy and the U.S.-Mexico border, in addition to his age.
Meanwhile, Biden's approval rating sits at 37%, according to the poll, while 56% of respondents actively disapprove of his presidency.
Biden is facing a crisis of confidence among his own party members as well, with roughly 60% of Democrat and Democrat-leaning respondents saying they would prefer a different nominee.
TWR: What are Democrat Leaders waiting for? The best scenario I see goes something like this:
VP Harris resigns as VP, is then appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to replace Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Gavin Newsom becomes Vice President…Then the Democrat Party’s Presidential Nominee…
REPUBLICAN PARTY AT ODDS, MCCARTHY DECRIES ‘BURN IT DOWN’ MENTALITY
CNN:
With six days until the government runs out of money, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has a choice to make: Does he risk a shutdown to keep his job or does he cross his Republican hardliners by working with Democrats?
It’s a defining moment that has been months in the making. To build favor with his detractors, McCarthy is allowing Republicans to move forward with voting on a series of appropriations bills this week, even though they will be dead on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
But time is running out and Republicans have failed to rally around a short-term option. And the promises McCarthy made in January when he bowed to hardliners to get his speaker’s gavel are finally coming home to roost.
McCarthy has both publicly and privately tried to compel members of his conference to unite around something – anything – to strengthen their leverage in spending talks with the Senate.
Former President Donald Trump jumped into the fray last week, encouraging Republicans on Truth Social to oppose any spending bill that doesn’t defund the Department of Justice or the criminal investigations into him.
TWR: So the Freedom Caucus is accused as having a ‘burn it down mentality’?
I see them attempting to stop the endless pouring of fiscal gasoline on America’s 33-Trillion Dollar Debt Bonfire by the same people cynically making the accusations.
INTERNATIONAL:
MEXICO—TO DEPORT MIGRANTS FROM THE TEXAS/MEXICO BORDER
CNN:
Mexico has made an agreement with the United States to deport migrants from its border cities to their home countries and take several actions to deter migrants as part of a new effort to combat the recent surge in border crossings.
Mexican officials met with US Customs and Border Protection officials on Friday in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico – across the border from El Paso, Texas – following the recent spike in illegal crossings into the US that temporarily closed an international bridge and paused Mexico’s main cargo train system.
As part of the agreement, Mexico agreed to “depressurize” its northern cities, which border the El Paso, San Diego and Eagle Pass, Texas, where the mayor has declared a state of emergency.
They will also implement more than a dozen actions to prevent migrants from risking their lives by using the railway system to reach the US-Mexico border, according to Mexico’s National Migration Institute.
TWR: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared an Invasion of the State by these “immigrants”.
It is my hope that now he invokes Article IV of the US Constitution and closes the entire Texas/Mexico Border, save the International Ports of Entry.
What would be the Federal Government’s response?
Would President Biden then federalize the Texas National Guard, then order them to reopen the US Border?
Would the President levy Economic Sanctions against the State of Texas?
He would then be seen as a US President not only refusing to provide a secure border, but demanding the border remain open…
…And that looks like treason.
CANADA—PARLIAMENT GIVES FORMER NAZI A STANDING OVATION
FOX NEWS:
Canadian Jewish organizations and social media critics are slamming the Canadian Parliament for giving a man who fought for the Nazis a standing ovation during an event featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the country.
Video and photos show the Canadian Parliament erupted into cheers, when Canadian lawmakers also honored Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant who fought for the First Ukrainian Division, according to the Toronto Star.
That division was also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, which fought for the Nazis as its paramilitary arm under the Schutzstaffel organization, according to the outlet.
"FSWC is appalled that Canada’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others.
An apology and explanation is owed," the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to educating people on the Holocaust, wrote on X.
CNN:
The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons has apologized after celebrating a Ukrainian veteran who fought for a Nazi military unit in World War II:
“I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so,” Rota said in a statement shared by his office Sunday. He added, “I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world.”
TWR: What a ridiculously stupid mistake.
RELIGION:
ANGLICAN MINISTER CALLS OUT LIBERAL “THREAT” TO THE WESTERN CHURCH
FOX NEWS:
Free Church of England minister and prominent British conservative commentator Deacon Calvin Robinson is slamming progressive Christianity and warning that liberalism is the "greatest" current threat to the western Church.
In an interview with FOX News Digital, Deacon Robinson argued that the term "progressive Christian" is an "oxymoron," and stated that the liberal, "neo-Marxist" thought that has infected the minds of some leaders and congregants in both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches is a tool being used to destroy Christianity from within.
Deacon Robinson described liberalism as so dangerous because it’s "warped in terms of taking something that sounds compassionate, sounds empathetic, but isn't actually fully true in order to get people to believe in it, such as, you know, trans/queer theory, gender theory, critical race theory."
Further, he explained each of these radical liberal ideas "come from one place," saying, "… we call it ‘neo–Marxism,’ but it's really communism, which we know is incompatible with the Christian faith."
TWR: Politics poisons everything it touches.
Here, we now see an attempt to establish politically-based religion, in violation of the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.
Just as America’s Journalism Industry volunteered to become the US Government’s Propaganda Ministry…The Western Church is volunteering to provide this Nation’s Ministry Ministry.
HEALTH:
MAYO CLINIC NOW SAYS HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE MAY BE USED TO TREAT COVID-19
MAYO CLINIC.ORG:
Hydroxychloroquine is used to treat malaria. It may also be used to treat coronavirus (COVID-19) in certain hospitalized patients.
Using this medicine alone or with other medicines (eg, azithromycin) may increase your risk of heart rhythm problems (eg, QT prolongation, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia).
Hydroxychloroquine should only be used for COVID-19 in a hospital or during clinical trials. Do not take any medicine that contains hydroxychloroquine unless prescribed by your doctor.
Hydroxychloroquine belongs to a group of medicines known as antimalarials. It works by preventing or treating malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito.
TWR: How many victims of COVID-19 suffered or died because of the political suppression of treatment options…approved by the CDC…by our Government and the Mainstream Media?
The answer? Way too many.
NEW REPORTS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH DIET COKE
FOX NEWS:
Pregnant or breastfeeding women who consume diet soda or other foods and drinks containing aspartame could experience higher rates of autism diagnoses in their sons, a new study has revealed.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) found that among boys who had been diagnosed with autism, their mothers were three times as likely to report drinking at least one diet soda — or consuming an equivalent amount of five tabletop packets of aspartame — per day.
"Our study does not prove causality — it does not prove that maternal intake of diet sodas, and aspartame specifically, during pregnancy or nursing increases a child’s risk of autism — but it does raise a major warning flag," said lead author Sharon Parten Fowler, PhD, adjunct assistant professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio, in an interview with Fox News.
TWR: Diet drinks are far worse for you than those sweetened with cane sugar…or even corn sweeteners. Why?
Your body cannot differentiate between real sugar and artificial sweetener…So, your pancreas delivers insulin to your bloodstream to metabolize sugar that isn’t there.
As for possibly causing autism…I agree with Dr. Fowler…We don’t know, but this is a serious red flag…
What if excess insulin in the system of a pregnant woman causes developmental changes in her baby?
SPORTS:
DALLAS COWBOYS LOSE TO ARIZONA
CBS:
The Dallas Cowboys visiting the Arizona Cardinals appeared to be perhaps Week 3's most lopsided game. That wasn't the case, as the Cardinals shocked the Cowboys and the football world with a 28-16 victory.
Arizona was an 11-point home underdog after entering Week 3 winless following a collapse against the New York Giants in which they blew a 21-point second-half lead to lose 31-28.
The Cardinals obliged, racking up 222 rushing yards with both of their three touchdowns coming the ground via a 45-yard sprint by wide receiver Rondale Moore and a 5-yard plunge by running back James Conner.
Penalties also hampered the Cowboys, as they committed 13 for a total 107 yards surrendered. The 13 infractions are tied for the third-most in a game under head coach Mike McCarthy, since the 2020 season.
TWR: The Great Bill Walsh once said about then 49ers Quarterback Steve DeBerg,
“He’s just good enough to get you beat…”
I immediately understood what he was saying…DeBerg was a very talented NFL Quarterback, but didn’t have the ability to propel his abilities up to the extraordinary level required to consistently win.
Is it possible that Dak Prescott is thus facing the DeBerg Barrier?
Good enough to play, but not good enough to win?
As of this writing, the Cowboys are 2-1. It’s way too early to think about things like this…
…Right?
COLORADO FALLS OUT OF AP TOP 25 AFTER OREGON LOSS
THE ATHLETIC:
The Colorado Buffalo's pristine 3-0 start ended abruptly with a 42-6 loss to Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday.
The Ducks outran the Buffaloes 522-199, building a 42-0 advantage through three quarters before Colorado tacked on a late touchdown.
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix put together a strong performance for his Heisman Trophy resume, passing for 276 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for another.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders passed for just 159 yards as Oregon sacked him seven times.
TWR: Welcome to the Pac-12, Coach Prime…You’re still doing very, very well.
Oh, and please, lose the sunglasses? Thanks.
USHER NAMED AS HALFTIME PERFORMER FOR SUPER BOWL 58
FOX SPORTS:
Usher has been confirmed as the headliner for the Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The decision was announced by Apple Music Sunday morning via the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
"It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before," Usher said, according to Variety. "Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon."
Usher follows last year's performance from Rihanna, who publicly showcased her second pregnancy during the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in Arizona. Nearly 119 million viewers tuned in, and the Federal Communications Commission received over 100 complaints after the big game, with many claiming the show was "overtly sexual" in nature, TMZ reported.
TWR: Good for Usher…I hope he does really, really well.
Last year’s halftime show? Meh…
Prince’s halftime show? Sublime.
HOLLYWOOD:
STUDIOS & SCREENWRITERS SETTLE 146-DAY STRIKE
USA TODAY:
Hollywood screenwriters and studios have reached a tentative agreement to end the writers' strike that has brought the TV and movie industry to a standstill for nearly five months.
The Writers Guild of America announced the deal late Sunday with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services and producers in negotiations.
"The WGA and AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement," the Writers Guild West posted on its official X social media account Sunday. "This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who stood with us for over 146 days."
The three-year contract agreement must be approved by the guild's board and members before the strike officially ends. There is still no deal between Hollywood actors and the studios, as the 160,000-member SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July.
TWR: Hopefully, the issues of Image & Likeness were handled…If not, the entire acting profession will be replaced by A.I. Imagery…
When that happens, I wonder who…or what…the audience will be.
Jon-David Wells, Host - The Wells Report c: 2023
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